Mind Balance Cafe: Recent Episodes
Mirella Lee
Short episodes about mental health, personal development and relationships from Australian social worker and therapist Mirella Lee. Mirella also writes at www.mindbalancecafe.com
In this episode I share some ideas for dealing with days where you just feel... ugly.
To book an online counselling appointment click here.
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I've been meditating and practicing mindfulness (very imperfectly) for about 10 years now. I first got into it as a way of dealing with anxiety and depression and while it has been a slow process it has definitely changed my life for the better. It has been a matter of small steps and moments of learning building on top of each other. Here is what I have learnt and what I got wrong.
Link to the blog: mindbalancecafe.com
Link to the Headspace website.
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Distraction can be a helpful coping strategy when we're too distressed to cope with the situation or when we're tempted to use unhelpful coping strategies such as self harm, substance misuse, binge eating or ruminating. These coping strategies cause more problems than they solve and will probably leave you feeling worse than before. In this case distracting yourself might be the best thing you could do. But if we rely on distraction every time we feel upset we won’t learn how to deal with our emotions effectively. In this episode I discuss how and when to use distraction for the best results.
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1 in 4 people in Australia report feeling lonely with this number increasing dramatically since Covid-19. Loneliness and mental health issues have a two way relationship. You are more likely to be socially isolated and avoid people if you are anxious or depressed but loneliness also contributes to mental health and physical health issues.
Link to my article How To Connect With Others For Better Mental Health.
To book an appointment click here.
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Research confirms what we know intuitively, that time in nature is good for our physical and mental health. So why is this and how get can we more?
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In this episode I look at the idea of having a life's purpose. How important is it? What if you don't know what your life's purpose is? And what if you have been unable to achieve your dreams? I also discuss what I loved about the movie Soul and what we can learn from ACT (Action Commitment Therapy).
Books recommended The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris.
To book an online counselling appointment visit my website.
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Have you ever asked yourself who you really are? Or maybe you've wondered what exactly an Ego is? If so then this episode is for you! I dive into the question of you are not in order to answer the question of who you are.
To book an online counselling appointment go to mindbalancecafe.com
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Do you struggle to make decisions fearing there might be something better out there? Do you try to do to much and then fall in an exhausted heap? You might be dealing with FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). In this episode I discuss why I believe FOMO is about resisting reality and what to do about it.
To book an online counselling appointment click here.
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The Enneagram is a personality test which outlines 9 personality types. It explains their strengths, weaknesses and the way they tend to react in times of stress and security.
To book an appointment visit https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
For more info visit The Enneagram Institute
Books recommended: The Sacred Enneagram by Christopher Heuertz
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All of us will lose someone we love and experience grief in the course of our lives, if we haven’t already. As Robert Neimeyer says, “We’re wired for attachment in a world of impermanence… There’s no getting over it there’s only getting through it.”
In this episode I discuss my experience of grief, describe some of the tasks of grief and the dual process model.
To book an online counselling appointment visit https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
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We all have our ‘go to’ styles in conflict; confrontational, avoidant, pacifying. How you handle conflict in a relationship and the areas you need to improve on will depend on your background and personality. Here are a few general rules that will help you handle conflict in a healthy way. And while I'll be focusing on intimate relationships this could also apply to any kind of relationship really.
To book an online counselling appointment visit https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
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Are you a HSP (Highly Sensitive Person)? Or have you always just felt a bit more sensitive than other people. In this episode I share 5 tips that will help you thrive as a sensitive person. And when you're at your best that benefits everyone around you.
To book an online counselling appointment go to https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
Books recommended:
The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aaron.
The Wisdom of Anxiety by Sheryl Paul
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Are you thinking of breaking up with your partner? Here are 4 questions you can ask yourself to gain clarity about whether or not you want to end your relationship.
Books recommended:
- The Dance of Connection by Harriet Lerner
- ACT With Love by Russ Harris
To book an online counselling appointment visit www.mindbalancecafe.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindbalancecafe/message
Regret is often accompanied by a sense of frustration or sadness about our inability to go back and change things. Dealing with regret in a healthy way can prevent it from poisoning our futures. In this episode I discuss self compassion, forgiveness, making amends and how we can learn from our regrets.
To book an online counselling appointment: https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
Poem: Phase One by Dilruba Ahmed
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Don't wait till your body is "perfect" to love it! Here are 5 ways you can love and honor your body right now.
To book an online counselling appointment: https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
Books recommended: If Not Dieting Then What? by Dr Rick Kausman
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Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) have increased sensitivity of the central nervous system which means that they experience physical or emotional stimulation more intensely. Being a HSP is not a disorder but rather a personality trait with both strengths and weaknesses. In this episode I explain 5 signs that you could be a Highly Sensitive Person.
Books recommended:
The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aaron
The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine Aaron
To book an online counselling appointment: https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindbalancecafe/message
Sandra Anderson at PSU, describes codependency as; “a pattern of dependence on compulsive behaviors and approval from others in an attempt to find safety, self-worth, and identity”.
So what causes codependency? And how can you heal? That's what this episode is all about.
To book an online counselling appointment with me visit https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindbalancecafe/message
In this episode I discuss the balance between self discipline and self compassion. How do we figure out when to push ourselves harder and when to cut ourselves some slack?
To book an online counselling appointment: https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindbalancecafe/message
Journaling helps us to reflect, problem solve and set goals for the future. I this episode I discuss different approaches to journaling and how to find a way that works for you.
To book an online counselling appointment: https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindbalancecafe/message
Do you find it hard to commit to relationships? Or are you plagued by fears about whether or not you really love your partner? You could be experiencing Relationship Anxiety.
Book an online counselling appointment: https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
Sheryl Paul: https://conscious-transitions.com/
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In this episode I discuss how to support someone with mental health issues and some of the challenges supporters face.
To book an online counselling appointment: https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindbalancecafe/message
Have you ever said "I shouldn't complain" or "it could be worse"? In this episode I take a look at whether or not comparing your suffering to someone else's is helpful. I also explore how to use gratitude in a healthy way rather than turning it into a guilt trip.
To book an online counselling appointment: https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindbalancecafe/message
In the first episode of the Mind Balance Cafe podcast I discuss 4 common relationship myths, how they might be sabotaging your relationship and what to do instead.
To book an online counselling appointment: https://mindbalancecafe.com/book-an-appointment/
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindbalancecafe/message